Hey guys!
Happy weekend. Anyone have fun plans? It’s an editing weekend for me, which is a good thing for you: it means I’ll be largely homebound, and being homebound means cooking and uncooking new grub. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, I come to you all on this bright Saturday with a confession: I hate wheatgrass.
Yes, my friends. Your ears don’t deceive you. I hate the stuff so much that I can’t even bear to take it (unless it’s diluted by 16 oz of pear juice and ginger, a la Liquiteria’s “Grasshopper” drink, or I’m taking it Hippocrates style, if you raw foodies catch my drift). I literally get sick and gag when I even try. And boy, do I ever try: I’ve been attempting–unsuccessfully–to love wheatgrass for almost four years now.
Let’s just say that it’s not working. My ex boyfriend could down an order of waffles and bacon at Jackson Hole and hop across the street to the health food store with me for a double shot of wheatgrass. He sucked it back like a champ, and while he didn’t feel great afterwards (always take wheatgrass on an empty stomach, guys: it’s highly medicinal and cleansing, which means it’ll make you feel like hell if you’ve just eaten something shady), guess what? He looked and felt better than I do when I try to take the stuff on an empty stomach–I, who eat raw foods all the time, juice on the reg, and love the taste of raw kale.
No fair.
At this point, I’ve accepted the fact that wheatgrass and I are not going to be warm and snuggly. And I have told myself–with some legitimacy, I think–that the fact that I juice as much other healthy stuff as I do (kale, chard, green veggies, and herbs like parsley and cilantro) kinda makes up for the fact that I visit Stewart the Wheatgrass Man’s stand at the farmer’s market just to gab (and to buy sunflower sprouts). My wheatgrass aversion does make me feel, though, as though I’m missing out on the rawcurious eater’s holy grail.
Let’s take a moment, shall we, to talk about the beauty of the grass? I will quote liberally from the Hippocrates Health Institute website (consider the Hippocrates folks the foremost keepers and purveyors of sprout and wheatgrass wisdom):
Wheatgrass is a blood purifier, cleanser, and detoxifier. It contains chlorophyll, which helps carry oxygen to every cell in your body. Oxygen in the body’s cells helps fight off disease, harmful bacteria, and cancer (see books written by Brian Clement or Ann Wigmore for more information). Wheatgrass must be “squeezed” or juiced in order for the body to assimilate its nutrients; so, unlike sunflower and pea green sprouts, it is not appropriate to add it to a salad.
Hippocrates suggests drinking wheatgrass juice in small amounts throughout the course of the day, always on an empty or nearly empty stomach. In general, two to four ounces every day or every other day is sufficient. Slowly sipping small quantities of the juice gives your body an opportunity to get used to its taste and effects. Taking one-ounce- to two-ounce drinks straight or mixed with other juices (Greens only) and sipping slowly will help prevent nausea or stomach upset. On a healing regime, we suggest you drink one or two ounces up to three or four times a day with one day of rest periodically. As a general rule, more is not better. Two ounces at any one given time is all any one person will need.
Wheatgrass is also high in vitamins A, E and B, and numerous trace minerals and elements, including calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium, iron and zinc. Wheatgrass also contains twelve amino acids, including the eight “essential” amino acids (that is, the ones our bodies don’t produce on their own): phenylalanine, valine, threonine, tryptophan, isoleucine, methionine, leucine, and lysine.
So in other words, wheatgrass is awesome.
Now I have an embarrassing confession to make: some time ago, I won a Lexen healthy wheatgrass juicer in an online giveaway. This little contraption juices wheatgrass easily and efficiently at home–all you need is to purchase the wheatgrass itself (which you can do online or at many farmers’ markets). Since then, guess how many times I’ve used my juicer? Sadly, a big fat zero. I should have predicted this, of course: if I can’t bear the stuff when I get it at juice bars, how on earth could I ever be compelled to juice it at home? I suppose I must have been swept up in a tidal wave of optimism.
Now, it makes me feel dreadful that I’ve got a juicer perisihing in the corner of my kitchen. So today, my ridiculous waste is your gain. I’m offering the incredible Lexen juicer to one Choosing Raw reader–may you feed your bod with the gift of chloryphll more steadily and happily than I have!
All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post PROMISING me that you’ll put this awesome little contraption to good use! For two entries, tweet it, too.
Before I head out, I want to share a little video with you guys. On Monday, I was in a bit of a funk. A coworker of mine sent me an email with the subject line “Will this cheer you up?” and the following video.
J, you’re the best. New age-y montages of salad always cheer me up.
So does sunshine, so I’m going to take a study break. Have a great weekend, all, and enter to win your juicer now!
xo
I'm a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, a former book editor, and a post-baccalaureate pre-med student at Georgetown University. I'm passionate about helping people to discover and enjoy plant based foods in a simple and healthy way. My name is pronounced like "Jenna." 
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I promise it will be put to good use
Cross my heart!
i monica do solmnly swear……….
I will live on wheatgrass if I am selected – love it!!!
I have been dying to get a wheatgrass juicer, but can’t afford it! My boyfriend and I love wheatgrass but never get to enjoy it
I promise to put it to good use! I love wheatgrass.
I would use that machine DAILY! Every Sunday at my farmers market I buy 7 shots of wheat grass for my weekly usage because I don’t have a juicer and I keep them in my fridge… I know my body would adore fresh wheat grass every morning, but without a juicer I sadly cannot do it. So I promise that this would be used well!! Thank you for sharing and sorry you don’t like wheat grass
wheatgrass is amazing! it gives me lots of energy to teach 8th grade everyday
I would definitely put your lovely juicer to good use! I’m a recent convert to the raw lifestyle. I’ve always had serious skin maladies and I’ve begun working with a naturopathic doctor to heal myself naturally. Wheat grass juice at home would be such another great addition! <3
Yes, I promise I will use the wheatgrass juicer!
I swear by all that is green and good that I will use it!
Thanks for the giveaway.
I would LOVE a wheatgrass juicer! I’m currently going (way out of my way) on a daily basis to the only place in the area that has wheatgrass shots, and i’ve acquired an addictive taste for it (or maybe the effects I know i’ll receive).
Thanks for the opportunity!
I promise, I promise, I promise!!
Oh I would Soooooo put that little contraption to good use
If I win I will use the juicer– I promise!!
I would use this all the time! I love wheatgrass juice…but my wallet does not, so I’d love to have a juicer!
I promise you that I will put this awesome little contraption to good use! My family and I will juice and drink wheatgrass – just as you and the Hippocrates suggest – “one or two ounces, three or four times a day with one day of rest periodically” and we’ll enjoy doing so! Thanks so very much for offering this drawing – Bless you!
Are you kidding me?!?!? How could someone NOT put that beautiful kitchen accessory to good use!!!!!
-emily http://www.emilyeatsclean.wordpress.com
I will!!!! I’m a new vegan and am trying to eat high raw. I want to brave the wheatgrass! I promise I’ll use it like a champ!
I would use this all the time!
I promise!!!!!!!! I’ve been wanting one of those for ages!!
FO SHO, pass it on to me!! I need a bit o’ wheatgrass in my life.
Hard to believe, but I actually like wheatgrass! I find it quite pleasant when freshly juiced, and “okay” when frozen and defrosted. And it has made a HUGE difference in the way I feel on the ACD! So I’d definitely make good use of it.
On another note, I made your poppyseed dressing from the other day and used it on a simple mesclun-greens salad and it was DIVINE. Fabulous! Rich, creamy, slightly sweet–total YUM. I can’t wait to try out all the veggie-based dressings from last post (because, as you note, the dressing really does make the salad!).
Scout’s honor, I will use it!
I would love love love this! I need some wheatgrass goodness in my life!
I promise to use it all the time!
I promise I’ll use it!!!
I take the kiddies regularly for a shot at the Jamba juice, but it would be great to have a home juicer and not to have to pay the prices to help them learn good health habits. It’s a bummer that you can’t stomach something that is so good for you. But that’s how it goes sometimes. . . I’m sure all the other good things you do for yourself and others make up for it!
I’ll switch people’s alcohol shots with home-brewed wheatgrass shots after they are a few drinks in, at apartment parties. Hahah… or maybe I’ll just brew some for myself!
i will use a wheat grass juicer! my husband will too! and we will be so happy and healthy
I promise that I will put it to good use! I’m not able to get it all that often, but I always feel great when I do. Thanks for the giveaway!
that video is hilarious. sooooo vegan.
and i cross my heart hope to die promise to use the wheat grass juicer if i am lucky enough to win it.
Promise to put it to good use =D
I would totally use it! Wheatgrass doesn’t bother me, and I hate paying premium prices for a shot.
Gena, I would LOVE to own this juicer! I already juice green veggies daily and recently discovered frozen wheatgrass shots at Whole Foods. I actually really like the flavor. I am starting to win the battle with systemic candida and I know this has had a lot to do with drinking green juice/eating greens. I am a juicer for life!
I promise to even grow my OWN wheatgrass if I win! I just bought seeds for kale and chard tonight, and look forward to juicing those tasty greens in a month, but I’ll zip out and get myself some wheatgrass too if I win!
Gena, how very generous of you to give this away! If I win I promise to give this baby lots of love and attention.
Tweeted this as well, thanks again
I would totally put this wheatgrass juicer to good use!! I love the cleansing properties of wheat grass juice, I don’t particularly love the taste but the benefits are soo worth it!
Wheatgrass is amazing and I have LOVED the taste since I was a tweenager! I PROMISE!
Oh my YUMMYNESS!
Wheatgrass made simple! 
We have had such a huge series of health problems in our family this past year into 2010, that this could be such a blessing and answer to improve our health quickly and easily…
I promise, criss-cross apple sauce to put your wheatgrass juicer to good use should we be the lucky ones you choose
How sweet you are to offer this to help others in need…Live, Love, and Laugh Daily!
Stacy
I actually don’t mind the taste of wheatgrass, and would love to be able to juice some from home in the mornings! (P.S. – I have a US address where it could be sent for forwarding).
Oh wow wow! This would help a lot! I am mama to 3 little wheatgrass drinkers (one through BM still) and we have to go buy it at Whole Foods. My juicer won’t juice the stuff.
I know I will use it every day, probably more than once a day!
BTW – we’re growing our wheatgrass easter baskets already since Easter is early this year….help me juice them afterwards!!!!!
xoxox
Um, I am not on Twitter, BUT I added this giveaway to my little blog here:
http://www.crookedmoonmama.com/2010/03/green-smoothies-for-all.html
For what it’s worth.
retweeted as well!
i promise i will use it! (and i don’t usually make promises…)
I PROMISE I will use it every day! I love wheat grass but it’s getting pretty pricy to buy several shots a day (which is honestly how much I drink it). Send me the juicer! You won’t regret it.
I cannot describe how thrilled I would be to juice grass at home!!! (I tweeted too @dethhotdog)
I LOVE wheatgrass. I have some frozen stuff right now, but an actual juicer would be HEAVEN!
Gah! So excited to see this post
I have been Juicing for a while and loving it. Once a week I stock up on veggies to juice, and a little while ago I bought wheatgrass to juice because I have heard of the amazing benefits. However, when I brought it home and tried to juice it, it went straight through to the pulp bin 
I wasn’t aware that you had to have a special wheatgrass juicer. I was so disappointed to have to toss it 
I would LOVE this juicer and PROMISE to use it wisely and often 
I’ve just been itching to grow and juice my own wheatgrass at home for some time now, but with no juicer, the plan hasn’t really gone anywhere. I promise your juicer would surely see use in my kitchen!
Oh man, I ADORE wheatgrass. So much so that I have to literally restrict myself from downing it in large quantities – I could drink that stuff like good old kale and carrot juice. That wheatgrass juicer would get great use in my home.
I definitely promise.
Oh yay! I’ve been eyeing this thing for years and just couldn’t justify it (especially having just bought a house!) when we’ve got the lovely happy Breville for most juicing. But greens! Oh, dear Breville, you do not play nicely with my greens, for the most part. And the Healthy Juicer is portable too! I have happy ideas of taking it with me to visit my hubby while he is doing his five months of Lt training and making him fresh wheatgrass juice to help him get through the horrid food all military bases seem to serve…
Um, yeah, I promise it would be put to good use.
I promise I will use the juicer!!!!! I’ve never tried wheatgrass but I love the sound of it! yum chlorophyll.
I would LOVE this and would definitely be using it – I chugged my wheat grass tonight while dear husband had chicken fingers
I would love to win this for my mama, a professional landscape designer who’s dying to grow her own wheatgrass as part of her new (awesome) health regimen. And maybe because I’m going go be living with her again for a few months this fall.
I PROMISE it would get oodles of use in my family.
I’d love to win this for my clients—-I’m a wellness coach working with people who know NOTHING about raw food (their employer hired me and provides my services to them as a benefit). Not only am I helping nudge mcdonald’s eating SAD foodists toward more fruits and veg, but I’m actually now seeing a huge fun wave of new green smoothie enthusiasts and raw food kitchen experimentation. I (we) would actually use the juicer on location—-and have the employees help me grow the wheatgrass right at work (We already have permission, I just don’t have anyone to buy the juicer).
I’ll use it!
I guarantee the juicer would be used!
Tweeted; thanks!
I would totally use this, no doubt about it!
Promise to make good use of it
As always, thank you!
Had my first shots this week…I am a convert & will keep that juicer humming! Thanks for recycling!
I love wheatgrass! Thanks for this giveaway!
I PROMISE I would put it to good use!!!
I would use it every day!
As soon as you tell me I’ve won, I will order the wheatgrass in anticipation of the juicer’s arrival. PROMISE!!
i promise that i’ll put it to good use AND my housemates will too! (giving the added benefit to a total of 4 young women!)
I would absolutely use it!
I usually take them after eating and feel icky — thanks for explaining why! I PROMISE I’ll put that baby to good use
Hi! I promise I will put this to good use, I only have a regular blender and I have just gotten some wheatgrass sprouts and was wondering how I was going to get juice, so I promise I’ll use it! also tweeted it @gsh41 Have a great day!
I promise to use it! I have been juicing up a storm lately, but sadly, my juicer does not juice wheatgrass.
wow! i would love to win this, i super promise to enjoy wheatgrass very often if i am the lucky winner!
I’ve only had the opportunity to purchase Wheatgrass shots at my local juice joint. So obviously not getting my shots everyday. A shot every morning in the comfort of my kitchen would be awesome.
I hate wheatgrass too! I have very much the same reaction as you do, yet is wasn’t always this way. Years ago I was fine with a shot n a chaser. Then I got to where I had to hold my nose when I threw my head back, n then I would get terribly nauseous n have lawnmower burps. Now I can’t do it at all, unless like you said, it’s diluted with a LOT of something else. And it is NO FAIR
I love wheatgrass! I cross my heart, I will use this juicer frequently
I have just recently made a promise to myself to CLEAN up my diet of nastiness and this would be perfect addition for my new beginning. Please let me take the juicer off your hands and i will promise to get good use of it. Thanks!!
I am dying to try wheatgrass and I would definitely put it to good use!!! I will also tweet this, to grab as many entires as I can
I promise to put it to good use.
I buy wheatgrass shots all the time, i would definetly use this!
Eek! Just saw this post. Hope I can still enter. I’ve been putting off a purchase of this magnitude due to finances. I would love a wheatgrass juicer, and promise to give it great use and love.
I def promise to use it! I love wheatgrass
Would love to win one of these nifty machines!
I quadruple promise I will use it every day of my life! ahhh I could really use it
i would LOVE to be able to drink the real stuff instead of the powdered version….. i would definitely use this! thank you!
I promise promise I will put the wheatgrass juicer to good use!
I more than promise that I will use, probably more than once a day. I love wheatgrass and this would definitely increase my nutritional intake!!
Sure, we’ll put it to good use! Promise. Okay, my hubby will. I’m not a wheatgrass juice (shot) fan either but I try on occasion. We even grow our own wheatgrass. Anyway, we lost ours in a move (this exact model) – not sure if we accidently tossed it or if it’s “safely stored” somewhere in the confines of our storage unit. Whoops.
Thanks!
I tweeted via @hihorosie
When does the contest end?
I would LOVE to put that baby to good use! I just ordered my first wheatgrass growing kit so I can grow my own. The taste isn’t the best- but the health benefits are soooo worth it!
OMG. Please, powers that be, let me win! I love the taste of wheatgrass, I grow wheatgrass even (it just feels like to have spring in the house) … but do not have a wheatgrass juicer! I would use this thing all the time, no doubt.
I promise I’ll use it if I win! I love juicing in general, but I have never owned a wheatgrass juicer before– I think it sounds so fun!!
I promise to use it ….give it to my kids, force it down my husband and run over to the neighbours with a shot…..
Oh my gosh! I really want a wheatgrass juicer. I would use it all the time. I have it on my list of things to buy at some point, but winning something is always better!
I promise that I will use it. I am trying a really healthy lifestyle for Stage 4 colorectal cancer treatment. I need this!
OMG Best Giveaway Ever!!! I will use this juicer every day, I promise with vegan sprinkles and a cherry on top!
Tweeted too
How awesome! I remember the first time I tried wheatgrass juice , I was so afraid because I had seen so many healthy eaters talk about how terrible it was! When I took that shot I was so surprised by how easy it was! My juicer sadly will not properly juice wheatgrass so yes please I promise!
I promise to use it because I’ve debated buying one for the LONGEST time. Although I don’t love the taste, I love how it makes me feel. usually I just chug it with an equal shot of orange juice
Pinky swear!
I live in a college dorm with a mandatory meal plan, and am always trying to find ways to avoid going just to eat a salad. I would defiantly put this contraption to use to add some variety into my diet of salads and smoothies.
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